Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Glendale, AZ
VS
Lowell, MA
🏆 Glendale leads 14 of 22 categories
Glendale
Arizona
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$66,375
Violent Crime Index
129⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
248,083 ✓ Larger
Lowell
Massachusetts
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$73,008 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
140⚠ High
Population
114,737
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Glendale, AZ
Pros
8% less violent crime than Lowell
Homes cost $53k less ($310,000 vs $362,800)
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 34°F
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Lowell
Rent averages $198/mo less ($1,268 vs $1,466)
Cons
Violent crime (488.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2670.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Lowell by $6,633/yr
Hot summers — July highs average 105°F
Lowell, MA
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 105°F
Households earn $6,633 more per year on average
More college-educated — 28.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 12.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (532.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $362,800
Cost of living runs 14% higher than Glendale
Higher rents — median is $1,466/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Glendale
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 97.6 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Glendale
Violent Crime
8% lower
488.4 vs 532.5 per 100k
Glendale
Median Home Value
$53k less
$310,000 vs $362,800
Glendale
Summer Heat
20.2°F warmer
July avg high 104.9°F vs 84.7°F
Lowell
Median Income
$6,633
$73,008 vs $66,375/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Glendale, AZ | Lowell, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.6 ✓ Cheaper | 111.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $310,000⚠ High ✓ Lower | $362,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,268 ✓ Lower | $1,466⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $66,375 | $73,008 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.7%⚠ High | 5.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.3 min⚠ High | 27.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.3% ✓ Higher | 8.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 128⚠ High | 116⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 129⚠ High ✓ Safer | 140⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High | 79 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | B (100) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.6:1 | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.6% | 28.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 84.1% ✓ Higher | 82.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Peoria Unified School District (4237) | Lowell |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.4°F ✓ Warmer | 34.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 104.9°F ✓ Warmer | 84.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.2" ✓ Drier | 48.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" ✓ Less | 59.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 248,083 ✓ Larger | 114,737 |
| Median Age | 34.1 | 34.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.2% ✓ Higher | 43.3% |
| Under 18 | 25.3% ✓ More | 20.7% |
| Over 65 | 12.8% ✓ More | 11.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Glendale's cost of living index is 97.6 vs Lowell's 111.6 (US average = 100).
Glendale is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Glendale leads 14 of 22 categories. Glendale wins 14 and Lowell wins 8. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Glendale to Lowell or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($310,000 vs $362,800 median home), income ($66,375 vs $73,008), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Glendale, AZ and Lowell, MA are about 2,286 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.